Caitlin Clark continues to shape the national women’s basketball landscape, and UCLA head coach Cori Close is making sure people understand the size of that impact. Close spoke candidly about Clark’s influence, pushing back against critics who try to dismiss the attention Clark brings to the sport.
“I actually had the opportunity to coach Caitlin Clark in USA basketball,” Close said. “Even back then, she has a charisma about her that’s infectious around everyone she comes in contact with.”
Her description gives rare insight into Clark before she became one of the biggest names in college sports. Close pointed to charisma as a natural part of Clark’s presence, something that helped people gravitate toward her long before record-setting scoring nights.
Close also emphasized that Clark’s success widens the reach of women’s basketball beyond individual teams or rivalries.
“Even though I coach at UCLA, I can appreciate the impact of what’s happening with Juju at USC,” Close continued. “I think that you have to have a broader view of growing the game if you are really going to appreciate it. The reality is, Caitlin Clark has risen a level of fanbase that has broadened it that has deepened that we are all benefitting from.”
Her message underlines why Caitlin Clark draws more conversation than any other player in the sport today. Whether people love the spotlight or feel it overwhelms other stories, the growth is measurable. Arenas sell out. Ratings break records. More networks and sponsors invest because Caitlin Clark brings new audiences into the fold.
The success of players like Juju Watkins, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers now rides the same rising tide. Close’s remarks make clear that Caitlin Clark isn’t just boosting her own profile — she is raising visibility for an entire generation of young stars. And according to Close, that wider impact is something the sport should welcome, not push back against.
How Caitlin Clark’s Spotlight Fuels Rivalries and Growth, According to Cori Close
Cori Close expanded her thoughts on Caitlin Clark by addressing the heated back-and-forth moments that often follow Clark online and on television. Instead of seeing tension as a problem, Close argued it plays a real role in expanding interest across women’s basketball.
“Some of the tensions that have gone back and forth, I am like, great! Bring it on,” Close said. “Let’s build each other up and I think there is no such thing in that case, of there is no bad publicity or exposure.”
Her perspective challenges the idea that Caitlin Clark’s popularity creates unnecessary drama. In Close’s view, the debates, rivalries and spirited exchanges keep fans engaged, and that engagement is one of the strongest engines behind the sport’s current rise.
This point becomes even clearer when looking at how audiences respond to anything related to Caitlin Clark. Games involving Clark draw some of the largest college basketball crowds of the decade. Highlights trend instantly. Broadcasts featuring Iowa consistently outperform expectations, bringing in viewers who then discover other stars and programs. Without question, Caitlin Clark is one of the central reasons women’s basketball is scaling at a pace the sport has rarely seen.
Close’s comments also speak to growth beyond Clark. As more people tune in, the exposure benefits everyone: Clark’s rivals, her teammates, the Pac-12 and Big Ten programs, and eventually the WNBA. The momentum does not stay with one school or one player — it spreads outward.
By framing tension as opportunity, Close reinforces why the conversation around Caitlin Clark continues to matter. Rivalries boost excitement. Storylines bring in new fans. And every wave of attention pushes the sport forward. For Close, the message is simple: if Caitlin Clark draws the spotlight, everyone gains from the glow.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
